Penn State's Bolden, Fortt transfer

The Sports Xchange

The SportsXchangeAugust 1, 2012

Penn State linebacker Khairi Fortt and backup quarterback Rob Bolden have officially transferred. Bolden landed at LSU, coach Les Miles confirmed, and completed the process officially Wednesday afternoon. Fortt will play at Cal. A junior competing for the starting middle linebacker job at Penn State, he was rumored to be joining the Golden Bears early Monday, but his father denied Fortt planned to transfer. Fortt said Wednesday his decision was about his future, not about Penn State's past. "I wanted to take a leap of faith and trust in God," Fortt told the Stamford (Conn.) Advocate. "This is what's right for me and my family." Cal uses mostly a 3-4 defensive front but Fortt, 6-2, 235, should be a good fit in the scheme. In his two best games last season, Fortt got a chance to blitz and produced 2.5 total sacks against Iowa and Houston (TicketCity Bowl). Bolden joins an LSU roster with very good depth at quarterback, including junior starter Zach Mettenberger. The dual-threat quarterback started as a freshman in 2010 but would have been a backup to Matt McGloin for a second consecutive season at Penn State. LSU's depth chart also includes redshirt freshman Stephen Rivers, the younger brother of Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers. Junior running back Silas Redd, the team's leading rusher in 2011 and arguably Penn State's most accomplished playmaker on offense, announced Tuesday he was transferring to Southern Cal. Most incoming recruits have affirmed their commitment to coach Bill O'Brien despite prohibitive sanctions levied by the NCAA that will reduce scholarships and keep the Nittany Lions out of the postseason for the next four seasons.